The 40-year-old sanctions imposed by the US against Cuba is illegal and inhuman, China's deputy representative to the UN Zhang Yishan told the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

Addressing the assembly after voting for a resolution demanding an immediate end to the most unpopular sanction with 178 other countries, Zhang recalled that similar resolutions have been adopted for 12 consecutive years, but the country concerned refused to comply.

The resolution urged all countries to comply with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles enshrined in the international legal instruments, repeal or invalidate all the laws and measures with the "extraterritorial effects" that affect the sovereignty of other states.

"Regrettably, the country concerned, continuing to act willfully, obstinately stick to the wrong position and ignore the just demand of the international community, has failed to implement the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations," he said.

The US has claimed that the sanctions "are aimed at enhancing democracy, freedom and human rights in Cuba," said the Chinese envoy, but the reality is by attempting to use embargo and sanction to force another country to give up its independently chosen development road, and even to overthrow the existing government.

Zhang said that the embargo and sanction have seriously "obstructed and constrained the Cuban people in their nation-building efforts to eradicate poverty, improve people's living standard, and promote economic and social development."

Nearly 80 countries have suffered economic losses as a result of the embargo and sanctions, according to Zhang, who noted that the international community "is entitled to raise serious concern over such embargo and sanction and demand an immediate end to them."